New kid on block Jeremy Lin lifts Knicks past Nets

NEW YORK — Only a few days ago, Jeremy Lin simply was hoping for a few minutes so he could prove himself. Just a young role player, hoping to make the most of whatever opportunity he could get.

But on Saturday night, Lin brought Madison Square Garden to its collective feet repeatedly in the fourth quarter. He torched one of the game’s best point guards. He left the court with 19,763 fans screaming his name and Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy” blaring over the loud speakers.

Opportunity seized.

Lin, who has been a non-factor for most of the season, carried the Knicks to a 99-92 win over the Nets.

He scored a career-high 25 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and notched a career-high seven assists. He also played a team-high 35 minutes for a tired Knicks team playing its third game in as many nights. Not too bad for a second-year player who had played only 54 minutes all season before Saturday night.

“This night, it just hasn’t really sunk in yet, to be honest,” Lin said. “I’m still kind of in shock by every­thing that happened. I’m just try­ing to soak it all in right now.”

He’s not the only one.

In leading the Knicks to a much-needed victory, Lin out­played perennial All-Star Deron Williams. Williams finished with 21 points and 11 assists, but for the second straight night he struggled in the fourth quarter. On Friday, in a 108-105 loss to the Timber­wolves, it was Williams’ turnovers that hurt the Nets (8-17).

Saturday night, it was Lin.

“He did a heck of a job,” Williams said of Lin. “And he’s a big reason they won this game.”

No play got the Garden going more than Lin’s drive to the basket with 1:36 left. He split the Nets’ defense, was fouled by Anthony Morrow and converted the three­point play. That completed an 11-4 run that gave the Knicks a 95-86 lead and put the game out of reach. The sellout crowd had the building shaking with noise.

Early on, the noise from the crowd was much different.

The Knicks, playing the third game of a back-to-back-to-back and reeling after 11 losses in their last 13 games, fell behind early. The Garden crowd wasted no time booing the Knicks (9-15) as they trailed, 30-20, after the first quar­ter.

But the Knicks bounced back before halftime. Of course, the big reason was Lin.

With the Knicks tired and look­ing for someone — anyone — to play a decent point guard for them, Lin got his opportunity. He played the entire second quarter, and sparked the Knicks with three re­bounds, four assists and six points in the first half. He was part of a 13-6 run early in the second quar­ter that got the Knicks back in the game. Suddenly, The Garden crowd was revived and roaring for Lin as the Knicks pulled within 48-46 by halftime.

The Nets appeared ready to pull away late in the third quarter, as they pushed their lead to five points in the final seconds. But with the clock winding down, Lin drove the lane, got hit by Keith Bo­gans and made the layup. As he stepped to the free-throw line to convert his three-point play, and pull the Knicks within 72-70 after three quarters, a chant echoed throughout the Garden: “Jer-e­mee! Jer-e-mee!”

It was only a preview of what was to come.

“There have been some really down times for me,” said Lin, who was waived twice this preseason. “But this is obviously one of the highs. And I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”

New kid on block Jeremy Lin lifts Knicks past Nets

NEW YORK — Only a few days ago, Jeremy Lin simply was hoping for a few minutes so he could prove himself. Just a young role player, hoping to make the most of whatever opportunity he could get.

But on Saturday night, Lin brought Madison Square Garden to its collective feet repeatedly in the fourth quarter. He torched one of the game’s best point guards. He left the court with 19,763 fans screaming his name and Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy” blaring over the loud speakers.

Opportunity seized.

Lin, who has been a non-factor for most of the season, carried the Knicks to a 99-92 win over the Nets.

He scored a career-high 25 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and notched a career-high seven assists. He also played a team-high 35 minutes for a tired Knicks team playing its third game in as many nights. Not too bad for a second-year player who had played only 54 minutes all season before Saturday night.

“This night, it just hasn’t really sunk in yet, to be honest,” Lin said. “I’m still kind of in shock by every­thing that happened. I’m just try­ing to soak it all in right now.”

He’s not the only one.

In leading the Knicks to a much-needed victory, Lin out­played perennial All-Star Deron Williams. Williams finished with 21 points and 11 assists, but for the second straight night he struggled in the fourth quarter. On Friday, in a 108-105 loss to the Timber­wolves, it was Williams’ turnovers that hurt the Nets (8-17).

Saturday night, it was Lin.

“He did a heck of a job,” Williams said of Lin. “And he’s a big reason they won this game.”

No play got the Garden going more than Lin’s drive to the basket with 1:36 left. He split the Nets’ defense, was fouled by Anthony Morrow and converted the three­point play. That completed an 11-4 run that gave the Knicks a 95-86 lead and put the game out of reach. The sellout crowd had the building shaking with noise.

Early on, the noise from the crowd was much different.

The Knicks, playing the third game of a back-to-back-to-back and reeling after 11 losses in their last 13 games, fell behind early. The Garden crowd wasted no time booing the Knicks (9-15) as they trailed, 30-20, after the first quar­ter.

But the Knicks bounced back before halftime. Of course, the big reason was Lin.

With the Knicks tired and look­ing for someone — anyone — to play a decent point guard for them, Lin got his opportunity. He played the entire second quarter, and sparked the Knicks with three re­bounds, four assists and six points in the first half. He was part of a 13-6 run early in the second quar­ter that got the Knicks back in the game. Suddenly, The Garden crowd was revived and roaring for Lin as the Knicks pulled within 48-46 by halftime.

The Nets appeared ready to pull away late in the third quarter, as they pushed their lead to five points in the final seconds. But with the clock winding down, Lin drove the lane, got hit by Keith Bo­gans and made the layup. As he stepped to the free-throw line to convert his three-point play, and pull the Knicks within 72-70 after three quarters, a chant echoed throughout the Garden: “Jer-e­mee! Jer-e-mee!”

It was only a preview of what was to come.

“There have been some really down times for me,” said Lin, who was waived twice this preseason. “But this is obviously one of the highs. And I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”